Susan Faye Smith

Susan Faye Smith (75) of Houston, Texas, was called home to our Lord on June 23, 2023, after a short pulmonary illness. Born May 24, 1948, in Beauregard Parish in the city of Deridder, Louisiana, she was the only child of loving adoptive parents, Fay Miles Smith and Rachel Susan Crow Smith, a Lumber broker and homemaker respectively.

Susan’s family lived in Joyce, Louisiana and moved to several cities in western Louisiana and east Texas due to her father’s job in the lumber industry. They finally settled in the Houston Heights area in the 1960’s where Susan graduated from Waltrip High School.

Susan married and settled in the Bear Creek area in the early 1980’s with her son Andrew and husband, Joe Martinez. When Andrew was in first grade, Susan and Joe joined the Boy Scouts of America and were heavily involved with the program supporting their son’s activities. She was an active volunteer in her son’s Pack 827 at Bear Creek Elementary as Pack Committee Chair and Troop 827 as Troop Committee Chair. Susan volunteered in the Mustang District and Sam Houston Area Council; she attended Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge where she was part of the Beaver Patrol. Susan loved the outdoors and to that end, volunteered her time to the Order of the Arrow, Youth Leader Training, Winter Camp, Summer Camp, and, in 2007, attended the 100th year anniversary of Scouting in England. She accumulated many awards for her service to Scouting including District award of Merit and the Sam Houston Area Council Silver Beaver Award recognizing her selfless work at the Council Level.

Susan worked in several industries utilizing her accounting diploma and ultimately retired from the oil and gas industry after working as a cost accountant for BP on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In retirement, she loved to enjoy her cats, grandchildren and spending time with her companion, Hal Naumann.

Susan was devoted to her church life and loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She grew up Methodist and attended Bear Creek United Methodist Church and joined Hal in worship at Heights Church (formerly Baptist Temple).

Susan is survived by her son Andrew Martinez, grandsons Angel and Silas and longtime companion, Hal Naumann. She is preceded in heaven by her parents, ex-husband Joe Martinez and beloved cousin Marshall Martin Hearne, III. She will be missed by her extended Scouting family and many, many friends near and far. She will be especially missed by her close friends, Russell and Tammy Williams, Paul King and sister-by-choice, Lori Powell.

Funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, 2023, with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. at Waltrip Funeral home, 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, TX 77055. Interment following at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boys Scouts of America in Susan F. Smith’s name for a James West Fellowship endowment, Sam Houston Area Council, 2225 North Loop West, Houston, TX 77008.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Smith family.